Student Profile: Gulcin Cirik Gulcin Cirik as she overlooks Bryce Canyon. Gulcin Cirik traveled halfway around the globe from Istanbul, Turkey to pursue a Masters degree in Educational Technology at SDSU. Why? Her answer is simple and noble. Gulcin wants to help change the educational system in Turkey, and she believes that the SDSU Educational Technology program will help her reach this goal. Gulcin is uniquely qualified for this challenge. From 1997 to 1998, she taught ninth and tenth graders physics at Erol Altaca Private High School in Istanbul. She then began a Masters program in Science Education at Bogazici University while working part-time for Apple Computers as an Educational Specialist Assistant. Here, Gulcin prepared and delivered training for teachers on the use of computers. She saw the impact that technology can have in the classroom, but also she realized the criticality of training teachers to ensure the successful integration of technology. When she returns to Turkey, Gulcin hopes to develop a curriculum for Turkish teachers on using technology in their classrooms. She's already seeing how the concepts she is learning in the program will help her realize her aspirations. For example, in EdTec 544, Introduction to Instructional Design, she's developing lesson plans which help physics teachers in teaching kinematics graphs interpretation. Gulcin first learned about the SDSU EDTEC program from her supervisor at Apple, who was acquainted with the works of Bernie Dodge and Farhad Saba at SDSU. She supported Gulcin's enthusiasm and interest in using technologies in the classroom and encouraged Gulcin to investigate opportunities for a degree in Edcuational Technology at SDSU. After several email exchanges with Bernie Dodge, Gulcin arrived in San Diego in March 1999 with her husband, an industrial engineer, and began the Masters program in Fall 1999. Since coming to this country, Gulcin has dealt with several problems - language, culture, finances, Turkish earthquakes, and most difficult of all, learning how to drive (for driving lessons in Turkish see http://et.sdsu.edu/GCIRIK/final/anasayfa.htm). Clearly, Gulcin believes that dealing with these difficulties are worthwhile. She smiles and her eyes sparkle when speaking about the opportunity to study in the United States, and especially at one of the country's premier programs in Educational Technology. Once she completes the Masters program in May 2001, Gulcin and her husband intend to stay in the U.S. for a few more years to further expand her foundation in educational technology, and perhaps, to attain a doctoral degree in the field.